HP is refreshing it’s first entry into the Ultrabook space, the Folio 13, with the business oriented EliteBook Folio 9470m. This is a business focused machine which HP has brought up to speed with a third-generation Ivy Bridge processor a larger screen, a removable battery, docking connector, secondary-battery port, and more.

The Folio 9470m is the first of HP’s Ultrabooks to include a docking connector for compatibility with the company’s docking station. The 9470m is also compatible with HP’s secondary ‘slice’ battery which can be attached for even greater battery life. The primary battery is also user-removable in case you want to carry a spare. There’s also optional integrated 3G/4G (LTE) data connectivity for road warriors. The Folio 9470m is also part of the HP Global Series Program which ensures that companies can purchase the 9470m in a standardized configuration across 151 different countries.

The only major spec missing from what HP has released thus far is the exact CPU options. We know that it will be Ivy Bridge because of the listed HD 4000 integrated graphics. You can bet on Intel’s Core i5 CPU being offered at the least, and there is a chance that we’ll see Core i3 and Core i7 options as well.

The screen size has been increased by 0.7″ diagonally from 13.3″ to 14″, but the resolution remains the same at 1366×768. The Folio 13 supported up to 4GB of RAM while the Folio 9470m supports up to a whopping 16GB! The Folio 9470m adds one additional USB port over the Folio 13, and upgrades them all to USB 3.0, bringing to total to 3xUSB 3.0.

The port spread is pretty good, including the aforementioned USB ports, full VGA, full DisplayPort (1.1a), combined mic/output 3.5mm headphone jack, full SD, and a full RJ45 (ethernet/lan) port.

The Folio 9740m release date is still a little ways off, not expected to hit the shelves until October. Price has yet to be specified (likely because it is expected that the 9740m will be bought in bulk for enterprise use). After Dell’s enterprise success with the XPS 13 Ultrabook, I’m curious to see if HP will see similar interest from the business sector.

It’s my clear impression that all of HP’s new models have a screen bigger than 11.6 inches, so that in fact that the small and very attractive 11.6 models no longer are produced: Is this impression correct? If so, I hope that HP again soon will make the 11.6 models, for the minor footprint is of great importance to many of us traveling a lot.

planck

In the EliteBook announcement, HP also showed the new 2170p. It’s an 11.6″ ultraportable. Since it’s not “thin,” hardly any sites makes much mention of it. I’m interested in it, as well as, the 12.5″ HP 2570p and Lenovo X230.

So far, none of these ultrabooks are getting any of my money. Looks like I’ll be buying traditional ultraportables for a while.

jeff

I’m looking forward to the HP 2170p too. It has a small footprint, weights 1.3 kg and an “advertised” 9 hour battery life.

planck

If neither the 2570p nor the X230 can be configured with the 3612QM then I’ll just go for the 2170p. I’ll just not use my virtual machines running multi-threaded software. I’ll still keep an eye on ultrabooks though. Maybe one of these companies will come out with a fairly tough <= 12.5" ultrabook with long battery life.

Morten Andersen

A second thought: Try and make the formfactor so that the width and length of the machine are lesser/smaller than 20 and 30 cm respectively, and – furthermore – try and keep the bezel as narrow as possible. Such small PCs will be great, and the screen and keyboard will still be big enough for most of us to use even for prolonged working periods.

robert

looks like a matt type screen which is welcome it would be nice to have it on the new spectre as well with higher res.

Morten Andersen

I also really hope that the HP models that are less than 12.5″ also will have the option of glossy screen. I am so unsatisfied with matt screens, which I think are too dull and too little “vibrant”.

pacu

That’s not likely to happen on any business targeted notebook. I personally would like to see a PixelQi option myself.